NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Gulf of Mexico Expedition 2014 Daily Updates(April - May) From April 10 to May 1, a team of scientists and technicians both at sea and on shore will conduct exploratory investigations on the diversity and distribution of deep-sea habitats and marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. This is the third leg of a 59-day expedition focused on acquiring data on priority exploration areas identified by the ocean management and science communities.http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/dailyupdates.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Gulf of Mexico Expedition 2014 Daily Updateshttp://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/dailyupdates.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 14: Many Mounds DeepDive 14 was the second dive along the central part of the West Florida Escarpment. Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer (D2) arrived on the seafloor at 2,096 meters on a massive carbonate outcrop covered with soft sediment. The vehicles transited to the inner edge of the bench at 2,082 meters, then began up a steep slope with vertical intervals. This slope was composed of a series of steps formed by massive carbonate layers broken by small benches formed by bedding planes. Debris and soft sediment often accumulated on these benches. The top of the slope occurred at 1,887 meters and the ensuing broad bench was formed for the most part by a series of flat-lying stacked bedding planes. Some were the tops of massive layers, characterized by fossil burrows, algal mats, and drainage channels. At least 23 species of coral were observed, including many recruits, suggesting a healthy ecosystem that is ideal for recruitment. There was also an increase in coral abundance at ~1,970 meters. Rare sightings during this dive included a dandelion (benthic siphonophore), white fan bryozoans, a five-armed crinoid never before seen at this depth in the Gulf of Mexico, and four carnivorous sponges. Other species observed included glass and demosponges, a skate, two species of eels, crinoids, and bat stars. Just before the vehicles left the seafloor, some mollusk casts were seen in a large piece of debris, at 1,827 meters.Monday, May 05, 2014 09:52:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr27.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerTransiting to the West Florida EscarpmentAfter yesterday’s dive, the remotely operated vehicle team secured the vehicles and we began our transit to the West Florida Escarpment to commence the next stage of the expedition – exploring deep-water areas on the Central-West Florida Escarpment. During the transit we collected high-resolution sonar data, including multibeam bathymetry, seafloor and water column backscatter, subbottom profiler, and water column data via XBTs. We also deployed three Argo floats during the transit that will spend the next several years collecting constant oceanographic data. Our shore-based teams spent the day preparing for the next set of dives, prepping Exploration Command Centers, and training students in the identification of deep sea fauna.Monday, April 28, 2014 10:25:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr25.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 12: Tar LiliesThe primary objective of Dive 12 was to investigate an approximately 60 meter-long sidescan acoustic target, which was suspected to be a shipwreck. The dive was conducted in water depths of 1,925-1,930 meters. The site was approached from the southwest, across a flat, sedimented seafloor characterized by scattered (OK-JA) black areas suggestive of bacterial mats and a number of unbranched bamboo corals and holothurians. Sea pens, shrimp, and polychaetes were also present in this area. A wooden log was found, heavily infested with squat lobsters. Within minutes of observing the first part of the suspected shipwreck, it became clear that the feature was not man-made, but a natural phenomenon that was nicknamed a “tar lily.” Discussion between the shore and the ship zeroed-in on the likeliest explanation – that this feature was a flower-like extrusion of asphalt at the seafloor – the first of its kind documented in this area of the Gulf of Mexico. Each “petal” of the tar extrusion or “flower” was curved and had internal layering, a result of de-volatilization of the asphalt rising from the sub-seafloor upon its contact with seawater. The first “tar lily” was colonized by fly trap anemones, unidentified sponges, goose neck barnacles, octocorals, sea pens, squat lobsters, and bamboo corals. There were also a few chemosynthetic fauna, including tube worms, bacterial mats, and Alvinocaris shrimp. At the second “tar lily,” there were more chemosynthetic worms, a spiral coral, a few octocorals, and several branching bamboo corals. On both structures, there was evidence for the presence of hydrate from seafloor staining near the base of asphalt extrusions. However, no bubbles of either gas or oil were observed escaping from either structure.Monday, April 28, 2014 09:38:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr24.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 11: Sigsbee EscarpmentDive 11 explored the Sigsbee Escarpment, starting on a sediment-covered seafloor at a depth of 2,867 meters. As Deep Discoverer moved up the slope, the seafloor became stepped, characterized by flat-lying outcrops/ridges of layered sediments exposed at the seafloor. The stepped nature of the slope persisted throughout the dive. Several species of octocorals were noted on layered outcrops at approximately 2,830 meters, including bubblegum coral and bamboo corals, possibly extending the known depth range for these types of corals in the Gulf of Mexico by 300-400 meters. Also present were a number of elephant ear sponges, anemones, glass sponges, tube worms, rattail fish, one halosaur, sea stars, and squat lobsters. Prominent furrows oriented diagonally downslope began to appear at 2,777 meters. These furrows/rills persisted upslope almost to the end of the dive. Near the end of the dive, extensive outcrops of sandstone/siltstone occurred, along with complex downslope drainage channels of various sizes. The vehicles were recovered from a depth of 2,723 meters.Monday, April 28, 2014 09:25:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr23.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 10: Mid-water Transects, Bryant CanyonDive 10 started with five 15-minute mid-water transects occurring in 100-meter intervals between 800 and 1,200 meters to examine pelagic fauna. Sighted during the transects were: shrimp, salps, ctenophores, bristle mouth fish, siphonophores, chaetognaths, “sinkers” (remnant mucus feeding sacks from larvaceans), hatchet fish, a sea butterfly (i.e. Pteropods- the animals who’s shells are seen on the sediment during most of the dives), and a few different types of jellyfish.
The second portion of the dive conducted a transect up the western wall of Bryant Canyon, starting from a depth of 2,813 meters on sediment-covered seafloor. Biota in the area included a few sea cucumbers, glass sponges, fish, sea stars, shrimp, anemones, sea pens, and a few snail fish. The first extensive hardground outcrops began at a depth of 2,765 meters. Furrows, similar to those found on Dive 9 on the other side of Bryant Canyon, were observed at 2,584 meters. In this area, Deep Discoverer (D2) encountered human debris, anemones, glass sponges, tunicates, cusk eels, tripod fish, and squat lobsters. More extensive hardgrounds were observed beginning at a depth of 2,531 meters. Sea stars, glass sponges, and sea cucumbers were common throughout the rest of the dive and flytrap anemones were common on steep slopes. Hardgrounds and layered outcrops persisted, with occasional near-vertical slopes, until the top of the slope, near the end of the dive. Although mostly barren, D2 documented one crinoid, a few glass sponges, sea stars, squat lobsters, polychaetes, sea pens, shrimp, and tripod fish. Rippled seafloor also occurred intermittently near the top of the slope. The dive ended at a depth of 2,470 meters.Monday, April 28, 2014 09:05:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr22.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 09: Bryant CanyonDive 09 was the first of two dives along the flanks of Bryant Canyon and examined a ridge along the “shallow” eastern flank of the canyon. Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer (D2) began the dive on a gentle slope of soft, unrippled sediment in 2,593 meters of water. Very small hardground pieces were occasionally observed, generally hosting anemones. Throughout the dive, we encountered sea cucumbers, tripod fish, anemones, glass sponges, sea stars, and shrimp. On the initial slope, there was a small patch of rubble colonized by sea stars, swimming sea cucumbers, and a glass sponge. Rare species included a small hermit crab carrying two anemones on its shell, a lizard fish, and six unidentified anemones on human debris. As D2 climbed the slope, the bottom soon became characterized by parallel gullies/rills/mega-furrows. These drainage features were generally three to five meters wide and one to two meters deep. Floors of these downslope features were often wide and flat, but also complexly configured with internal meandering bars and drainage divides. The furrowed area was mostly barren, but with some tube polychaetes, shrimp, sea cucumbers, and glass sponges. Towards the end of the dive, on occasionally rippled seafloor, there were three species of unidentified anemones on small rocks, as well as a sea cucumber and sea star. During the dive, D2 encountered circular depressions in seafloor sediment. Although our science team has a number of hypotheses about could cause these depressions, there is still further exploration to be done. The dive ended at a water depth of 2,396 meters.Wednesday, April 23, 2014 11:25:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr21.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 08: Keathley CanyonDive 08 conducted a 2.4 kilometer transect in Keathley Canyon. The bottom was 100 percent sediment throughout the dive with either rippled or flat sediment. There were many unidentified shrimp, glass tube sponges, swimming sea cucumbers, and spoon worm feeding marks. In addition, brittle stars, Bathysaurus (lizardfish), sea stars, anemones, two types of tripod fish, polychaete tube worms, and a stalked crinoid were all observed. En route to waypoint four, stalked glass sponges were seen both alive and dead in association with flytrap anemones, along with burrows laid in a circle (possibly created by armored shrimp). Towards the end of the dive, Deep Discoverer encountered a paper nautilus shell. At the very end of dive there was a small rock outcrop which was home to one Paramuricea octocoral with associated goose neck barnacles. There were also two species of squat lobsters and several different types of glass sponges present.Saturday, April 19, 2014 09:50:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr20.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 06: Keathley CanyonDive 06 was our second dive in Keathley Canyon, approximately 20 kilometers south of Dive 04, and began at a depth of 2,130 meters. The initial view of the seafloor showed unconsolidated sediment, with pronounced ripples. During our first transit, Deep Discoverer (D2) captured some fantastic imagery of several sea cucumbers swimming and eating, as well as a deep-sea lizardfish and a number of shrimp. Heading to Waypoint 2, we saw a number of cerianthid anemones and a thread leg shrimp. A few swimming polychaetes, liparid fish, and cutthroat eels were sighted and tripod fish were common. Sediment cover featured mostly pteropod shells with little to no ripples; on hard bottom, there were a few small white sponges and fly-trap anemones. Throughout the transit, we also saw several single stalked bamboo corals, the only species of coral on this dive. As the dive progressed, there was an increase in hummocky seafloor with associated hard ground and layered outcrops of more consolidated material. Individual hummocks were often a meter or more in height. Burrows in these outcrops were common. Biota in this area included sea cucumbers, cutthroat eels, rattail fish, shrimp, and several glass wedding sponges. Towards the end of the dive, D2 came across a set of Paleodictyon holes, one of the highlights of the day. Virtually identical, enigmatic “trace” marks have been seen in the geologic record for some 600 million years, and their cause is still being debated.Saturday, April 19, 2014 09:50:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr19.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 04: Keathley CanyonDive 4 conducted a transect from the main channel of Keathley Canyon up the western wall, starting from a depth of 2,000 meters and ending at approximately 1,760 meteres. The main channel was characterized by soft, unconsolidated sediment with a down-canyon current of approximately one knot. Biota in this area was rare, but included sea cucumbers, sea stars, a few thread shrimp, a Liparid (snail fish), and several halosaurs (lizardfish). Deep Discoverer (D2) next transited up the canyon’s lower west-facing wall, which was composed of slightly consolidated sediment. Sparse fauna along this wall included more sea stars and two clusters of parchment worms. After the lower wall, D2 moved across a flat area before reaching a second, steeper wall. Numerous slump scars were visible, as were numerous meandering gullies that suggested brine seeps. However, no such seeps were encountered. While transiting up this slope, D2 encountered several octocorals, crinoids, fly trap anemones, and sponges. There were also sea pens, an egg mass, and squat lobsters. The upper part of this wall appeared unstable (possibly from brine seepage) and had evidence of landslides. Crinoids were abundant, as well as living bamboo corals and anemones. We also encountered a bubblegum coral towards the end of the dive.Thursday, April 17, 2014 09:50:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr16.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerRough Seas: Dive Postponed, Mapping ContinuesToday’s dive was postponed because of high seas making conditions unsafe to deploy and recover the remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Always prepared for contingencies, our mapping team developed a plan and spent much of the day acquiring new high-resolution sonar data that will be made publicly available as soon as possible after the cruise. Other onboard personnel used the day to troubleshoot recent technical issues, plan and adjust future operations, catch up on work, and get some rest. Expedition team members both at sea and onshore are keeping an eye on the forecast and crossing our fingers that conditions tomorrow will be safe for conducting ROV operations.Wednesday, April 16, 2014 09:50:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr15.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 03: Assessing Mid-water Coral HabitatsThe third dive concentrated on assessing mid-water coral habitats by examining first the ~ 30-degree slope then part of the crest of an approximately 100-meter high topographic high (part of a sinuous ridge) in depths of ~1,150-1,050 meters. This dive represented the first of multiple dives designed to quantify models of deep-water coral habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. The dive began on flat sedimented seafloor at ~1,152 meters. Most of the dive involved moving slowly up a steep slope featuring scattered carbonate hardground outcrops of varying size. Many of the larger outcrops were encrusted with solitary corals and associates. Generally disarticulated bivalve shells were ubiquitous, suggesting the proximity of chemosynthetic communities. Some of the hardgrounds were also composed of cemented bivalve shells. Occasional concentrations of live mussels and clams and bacterial mats were encountered, but escaping bubbles were observed only once. The steepness of the slope led to substantial visual evidence of downslope movement of sediment, evidenced by slide scars. In several instances, light colored outcrops were exposed in these scars that looked like hydrate, but that could not be confirmed. Corals attached to hardground outcrops became more common at the edge of and across the crest of the topographic high at ~1,052 meters. The top of the high was generally characterized by a pronounced hummocky topography; some of the depressions were several meters deep. Such topography is suggestive of collapse, the result of dissolution of upwardly mobile evaporites at the seafloor. The dive ended about an hour early as a result of failure of the bow thruster, due to overheating associated with seaweed clogging the thruster well.Monday, April 14, 2014 08:46:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr14.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 02 – GB907Dive 02 was conducted at site GB907 to depth of 1,260 meters with the purpose of investigating a number of targets (potential hard bottom and cold seeps) identified by sonar surveys and conducting a baseline characterization of the biology and geology in the region. As remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Deep Discoverer (D2) transited to the first waypoint, we came across a number of bacterial mats and several sea cucumbers on soft sediment. Our first major discovery of the dive was a large brine pool with a number of islands surrounded by carbonate outcrops. Around the shores of the brine pool we found anemones, fish, corals, sea stars, crustaceans, and tube worms. There were also several living tubeworms sticking through the surface of the brine. As these organisms could not have gotten started in that location, their existence suggests only intermittent existence of the brine pool. D2 left the brine pool and came across areas with bacterial staining and a few carbonate hardgrounds with several small crustaceans and anemones. At one of the outcrops, multiple streams of escaping oil droplets and gas were observed emanating from a living mussel bed. Other fauna in this area included tubeworms, crustaceans, chiton, brittle stars, urchins, and small amphipods. Corals were rare and found on scattered carbonate outcrops. As D2 transited to waypoint 2, we came across a number of scattered carbonate outcrops that were surrounded by chemosynthetic mussels and tube worms. The dive was aborted early due to technical issues on the ship. As we were leaving the seafloor, we noted a large area of mussels with visible gas seepage that we were unable to investigate.Monday, April 14, 2014 08:46:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr13.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerDive 01 – GB648NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer had a great first remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dive today to kick off the 2014 Gulf of Mexico Expedition. ROV Deep Discoverer (D2) was launched to a depth of 962 meters at site GB648, now known to be a site of active hydrocarbon seepage. Shortly after reaching the bottom, D2 came across a potential extinct mud volcano. This carbonate structure was covered by encrusting sponges and bacterial mats and surrounded by dead mussel shells. As the dive proceeded, we came across several carbonate structures with apparent hydrocarbon seepage. Most notable was what our science team called the “Amphitheater of Chemosynthetic Life” – a large carbonate ledge covered in chemosynthetic mussels with methane hydrate underneath. Mussels were growing on top of the ledge, under the ledge, and upside down on the “roof” of the feature. Other fauna in the area included ice worms, sea urchins, fish, crabs, and starfish. Small white gastropods (snails) were common close to active seep sites, likely feeding on the chemosynthetic bacteria. Many bacterial mats were seen in a range of colors (white, orange, and black) and always associated with seeps. Corals were rare and low in diversity throughout the area. Other dive highlights included a hydrate tube that had a stream of both oil and gas bubbles, rapid hydrate formation around methane gas bubbles (similar to a rind of ice), and a large structure covered in mussels in the proximity of several bubble streams. During this dive, D2 also successfully tested two new pieces of equipment—a temperature probe and downward-looking mosaicking camera.Saturday, April 12, 2014 10:32:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr12.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerPreparing for the Expedition from ShoreAs Okeanos Explorer steams out to the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico and prepares all of the shipboard systems, our shoreside mission team is preparing for the expedition as well. During this expedition, the Okeanos science team will be spread throughout the country as scientists participate from six Exploration Command Centers (Stennis Space Center, MS; Silver Spring, MD; Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, FL; Texas AM University Galveston, TX; Meadows Center, TX; and the Inner Space Center, RI) or their offices, labs, or homes. More than 70 scientists and students have expressed interest in joining the expedition from shore! A large, distributed science party means the expedition requires far more coordination than a traditional cruise with only an onboard team. Over the last few days, our team has been testing equipment, staging dry runs of mission activities, providing training to new personnel, and troubleshooting any issues that arise. We have new team members this year and a larger science party than ever before, so our shoreside team has been very busy providing training on the tools and technology that will bring this telepresence-enabled exploration to shore.Friday, April 11, 2014 12:22:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr11.html
NOAA Ship Okeanos ExplorerThe 2014 Gulf of Mexico Expedition Commences!NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer departed Singing River Island, MS, at approximagely 1630 Central today and began transiting to our operating area in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico. We have a full day and half of transit ahead of us and will collect mapping data continuously as we head to our first remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dive site of the cruise. The onboard crew are busy getting familiar with the ship, learning safety procedures and preparing for upcoming operations. Our first ROV dive is planned for Saturday morning, April 12, at a potential gas seep site.Thursday, April 10, 2014 09:13:00 GMThttp://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex1402/dailyupdates/media/apr10.html